Pressing machine



Nov. 3, 1936. 'F. c. WILHELM 2,059,295

PREssINa MACHINE v Filed April 26, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l' 14T Tale NE YJ Ngv. 3, 1936. l y F. c. WILHELM 2,059,295

- PRSSING MACHINE Filed April 26, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fz ver/or F250 CI W/L HELM im, @www Nov. 3, 1936. I|. c. WILHELM PREssING MACHINE Filed April 26, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ',.ff @if- W jnVazgOf F'eEo C wmf/ELM @y Wwf, @d *WM Patented Nov. 3, 1936 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application 'April 2s, 1934, serial No. 722,525

14 Claims.

seams between the yoke and the fronts of the shirt and extending from each sleeve head to thev neckband. l

Another object is to provide an upwardly convexlaterally curved pressing surface and provide A means thereon by which4 the collar or neckband of a shirt is held in upright position above the pressing plane or pressing surface, thereby allow,- ing the yoke to be arranged in perfectly ilat condition on the convex ironing surface, and without the formation of wrinkles at or adjacent the -zone of junction between collar and yoke. Another object is to provide means whereby the entire yoke, right up to the line of junction between band and yoke or collar and yoke can be pressed in a single operation, including a gauge by which the operator can unfailingly and easily position the garment for such full-yoke ironing.

Machines in ordinary use are adapted only for ironing a portion of the yoke, not all of it, and the remaining unironed portion must be ironed by hand to obtain a properly finished garment. This involves additional time and labor. The operations necessaryto iron a shirt, before this invention, were: pressing of the inside of the cuffs, and the inside of the neckband, and when there was an attached foldable collar, simultaneously pressing the outsideand inside of such collar when in unfoldedcondition; reversing the cuffs and ironing them` on the outside and then again ironing the neckband or collar until dry. These operations were completed on a collar and cuff press. 'I'he garment was then transferred to a bosom vpress upon which the following operations were performed: the neckband or collar In the practice of `'the present invention the layers of thick resilient padding ,and an attempt was inserted 'in a collar-holding device; the shirt nrst operation is accomplished on the collar and cuff press and includes the complete and nal pressing of the Ainside of the yoke in one operation, while the cuffs are being simultaneously pressed on the inside. The operator then simply 5 draws the shirt toward herself or in a direction away from the rear of `the press to bring the collar into pressing position (without turning the shirt) and turning the cu's and vvironing on the opposite side simultaneously with the ironing of the collar.

Therefore, in two operations on the same press, y the yoke, the collar and the cuffs are completely ironed, and .no hand ironing of the yoke is necessary. The operations on the second or bosom press are the same as those previously described except 'that the yoke ironing operation is unnecessary because already completed. Thus, the remainng` lays or ironing 'operations on the bosom press can be much more quickly performed. In combination with the scheme for holding the neckband or collar above the pressing plane or surface, I also use a convex pressing surface which is curved in direction transversely, of the press. I am aware that there has been'previously used a pressing surface which is transversely curved and in which the plan contour is approxi- .mately that of the contour of a shirt yoke. However, in this prior device a semi-circular recess was provided into which the collar or band could fall or be received or lie, while the yoke was on the pressing surface and conditioned for pressing. There are atleast two objections to such prior devices. Firstly, the surface of the lower pressingelement is ordinarily covered with a layer or was made to cut out a portion of the padding at the edge to make it conform to or register with the edge of the recess. Accurate cutting of this padding is very'difilcult and in practice it is so poorly Vdone that the padding more often overhangs the recess suiiiciently to make accurate laying impossible. Moreover, this padding has to be changed frequently because it becomes matted andhard. Secondly, because of the inaccurate register of the out edge of the padding with the corresponding edge of the cut-out of the buck, there was no gauge by which a. shirt yoke could be unfailingly andl quickly laid in such manner that the junction line between the collar and the yoke would always lie exactly in the same place\ in order that the pressing head could press close up to the seam line between the neckband and yoke without running over onto the band, which -band or collar should., be pressed in a'separate operation to secure perfect t and finish.

In the present invention, means is provided on the stationary pressing head for supporting the collar or neckband at a level above its pressing I surface, and the meeting line between this means and the pressing surface has a plancontour somewhat like that of a collar of a'shirt when positioned on the wearer. A gauge is formed at the meeting line between said supporting means and Objects, features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description of the lar or band-securing drawings forming a part of this application, and in said drawings Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic front elevation showing the movable presser head in raised position and the collar or band holding means in release position;

Figure 2 is a top plan view showing the plan contour of the collar-supporting means and its relation to the pressing surface, and with the securing means in securing position;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section illustrating the pressing operation and showing how the shirt band or collar is held above the pressing plane, and illustrating how the collar-supporting means acts as a gauge to obtainaccurate ironing of the yoke up to its junction .with the collar or band;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken approximately on line 4--4 of Figure 3, illustrating one means for automatically releasing a colmeans as a result of press operation; and f Figure 5 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 4 showing a modiiication in which the collar-bandsecuring means or clamps are moved to release position during the advance of the presser head arm 38 to pressing position.

Numeral I generally indicates the press vhaving the usual work table 2. The invention may be applied to any style of press. On the table is mounted a suitable support 3 for the lower presser head or buck 4 which support is suitably chambered for the reception of steam. 'I'he buckhas herein the form of a shell or hollow cap movable with respect to the support 3. 'I'he plan contour of this buck or lower pressing element is best shown in Figure 2 and its plan contour is somewhat like that of a shirt yoke and its area is about the area of the largest size of shirt yoke. The buck is adapted to be depressed during a pressing operation against the action of springs, one of which is shown at 'I in Figure 4. The upward motion of the buck 4 is limited by means of head 8 of bolt 8 which passes through an opening in lug I0, and through the spring 1 and is secured to the buck 4. There are a plurality of such bolt and spring groups.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4: Padding IIis shown laid upon the upper surface of the buck 4. On top oi.' the padding is arranged an arcuate collar-supporting wall I5, the plan contour of which is shown in Figure 2. The wall is slanted upwardly and rearwardly to provide a surface by which the band or collar can be supported in incllned position. This wall also provides means over which one portion of the collar can hang while the other portion engages the incline, and while the shirt yoke is in pressing position upon the pressing surface of the padding II. In case of a collar, as distinguished from a band, a portion of the collar lies at the inner or concave side of the wall. jI'his collar-supporting structure has the form of a casting including the wall I5 and a horizontal attaching web portion I6 which has an opening I1 traversed by a stud I8 having a threaded connection with the top wall I9 of the buck 4. The stud traverses the padding. A wing-nut 20 threaded on the stud secures the wall structure in its place upon the padding. This structure also includes a depending iiange 22 engaged with the rear wall of the pedestal 3, and two pairs of upstanding spaced lugs 23 between each pair of which is pivoted as at 24 a collarsecuring device or clamp generally indicated at 26. Referring now to Figure 4: Each collar or band clamping element includes an arm having a foot 30 adapted to clampingly engage the collar band or collar 3l at a point adjacent its 'attachment with thejyoke 32. Each clamp 28 is provided with a cross pin 33, and connecting the cross pins at each side are springs 34 which act when posi- Each clamp also has a hand knob or equivalent l device 36 which is utilized to cooperate with means operable as a result of press operation (such for example as motion of the movable head arm 38) for moving the securing means to release position. This may be accomplished as a result/of operation of some type of press control element. In this instance, the release is made after the pressing operation, but this release may be accomplished as the head or arm 38 advances to pressing position, see Figure 5. In Figure 4, the two parts of the head arm 38 are shown connected by a cross piece 40 and upon this cross piece are mounted two arms 4I, each separately pivoted as at 42. Each arm has a hook 43 adapted', when the head is in the pressing position shown in Figure 3, to assume a position beneath the knobs 36. A spring 45 connects the arms 4I as shown in Figure 4, to draw them inwardly, and their inward movement is limited by the stop pins 46 on the cross piece. The hooks 43 are so form'ed that as the arm 38 moves downwardly the ends of the hooks slide on the knobs and are pushed outwardly. After the terminals of the hooks have passed the knobs 36, the spring brings the arms against the knobs and the hooks are thus positioned beneath the knobs'. On upward movement of the rock arm 38, the hooks engagethe knobs and the clamps are snapped to the stop position shown in dot-and-dash lines. v

Accurate cutting of the padding to fit the plan contour of the buck is easy of accomplishment. Moreover, no dependence is placed on any edge of the padding for gauging the position of the junction line of band and yoke relatively to a pressing line of the upper head. No recess is used into which the collar falls below the pressing plane, and therefdr'th'eioperators do not frequently omit proper pressing of the yoke because the padding overhangs the recess enough to make accurate laying difficult or impossible. Moreover,

a denite and invariable gauge line is provided at.

edge 52 joining with the 'lateral edges 53 by ay curved edge 54, making a small angle with the front edge. The invention is not entirely limited to the pian contour of the buck although the shape and angular relations of the edge 54 are A important for some uses.` The ends of the buck to bel semi-elliptical.

are therefore narrower or of less depth from front to rear, than the depth at any more medial point. The padding may be easily cut tofit this contour which has no recess and moreover the padding is easily held in place. y

When I use the word collar,l I mean either a collar band or a collar, because my device is adapted for supporting either a collar or a band above the pressing-surface in such manner that the yoke can be accurately ironed right up to the junction line'between' the yoke and the collar.'

Although I have stated that the plan contour of the wall I5 is or may be like that of a collar when it is on a wearer, I have shown this contour It is noted, see Figure 2, that this wall has straight terminal rearwardly extending portions 55 which are continuations of the terminal curved portions 55. These portions 55 projectrearwardly beyond the rear edge.52 of the buck and have horizontal reenforcing flanges 51. The convex side of the wall faces the operator, so that the band or collar can be stretched around and flatly against the rearwardly inclining surface. The whole assembly may be turned through an angle of 180 so that the side may face away from the operator.

Referring to Figures 3 and l: The upper pressing vhead 58 is cut away at the rear as at 59 to provide* a lower edge' which substantially conforms to the configuration of or is parallel with the junction line 60, see Figure 3, between the lower edge of wall I5 and the`upper or pressing surface ofthe padding. The line of junction of the surface 6I of the recess with the pressing surface 62 conforms to the coniiguration just mentioned, and lies at a point immediately adjacent the wall in the manner shown in Figure 3, when the press is closed. This permits a hitherto unknown degree of accuracy in the pressing of the yoke right up to the junction line with the band or collar.

The neckband can be placed around the convex or outer surface of the wall I5 and can be held by the clamps or in the case of a collar attached style .of shirt, the collar, which is damp and limp (having not yetbeen ironed) is folded or hung over the upper edge of the support I5. 'I'he height of the support is of course made suitable for this purpose. Insofar as I am aware, no one has ever provided a yoke ironer in which the limp band or collar could be supported in inclined, or in over-folded and hanging condition above an upwardly convex .pressing surface.

In Figure 5 I have shown a modication in which the clamps Ill are moved to releaseposiclamp III is provided with a projection 1I 'at the inner side and these projections are'- simultaneously engaged by a horizontal cross member 12 on arm 13 which is attached to cross bar lllV of the presser head arm 38. 'Ihe action here is sub' stantially the same as in the first case, except that release of the clamp is accomplished on a downward motion of the head, as distinguished from a retracting motion thereof.

It is again noted that the lever clips 25 -may be automatically disengaged either during the ad( vance, or during the retraction of the upper pressing head. In the former instance, no release. is obtained until the head is in such a position thatthe band or collar cannot fall away from the wall or be dragged therefrom by pressing action. Moreover, by turning the buck through an angle of the collar support may be placed at the front, without departing from the invention although the preferred arrangment is as shown. I also believe myself the rst to provide any means which is manually set to clamping position, and which is automatically moved from a clamping position by any means to said supporting means, and means carried by said movable pressing means for releasing said collar-securing means. v

2. In a pressing machine, a stationary pressing head and a movable pressing head, said stationary head having an arcuate collar-supporting wall rising above its pressing surface and having a plan contour substantially like that of the collar of a shirt when positioned on a wearer, and over which wall the collar can hang while the shirt yoke is in pressing position upon said pressing surface, said wall being placed at the edge of the stationary he'ad and extending outwardly beyond the head, and means on the extende part for holding the collar to the wall.

3. In a pressing machine a stationary pressing head and a movable pressing means cooperable with the head, said stationary head having means for supporting the collar of a shirt, manually operable means for releasably securing a-` collar-or collar band to the supporting means, and means carried by said movable pressing means and operable for moving the securing means to release position.

4. In a pressing machine a stationary pressing head and a movable pressing head, having an operating arm, said stationary head' having means for supporting the collar of a shirt at a level above its pressing surface, while the shirt yoke is in pressing position upon said surface, manually operable means for releasably securing the collar to said supporting means and means `mounted on the arm and operable during arm motion for moving said securing means to release position.

5. In a pressing machine a stationary pressing head and a movable pressing head having an operating arm, said stationary head having means for supporting the collar of a shirt, manually operable means for releasably securing the collar to said supporting means and means mounted on the arms and operable during arm motion for moving said securing means to release position.

6. In combination with a press having a stationary head and a movable head, means arranged upon the stationary head and rising above the pressing surface adapted to support a shirt collar above said pressing surface, while the shirt yoke is in pressing position upon said surface, means manually operable for releasably securing a collar to said' supporting means including a pair of pivoted clamps each having a projection, and hooks pivoted on and movable with said movable head and adapted to cooperate with the projections of said clamps to move the clamps as the head moves.

7. In a pressing machine a stationary pressing head and a movable pressing head, said stationary head having an arcuate collar-supporting wall rising above its pressing surface and over which wall the collar can hang, while the shirt yoke is in pressing position upon said pressing surface, and having extensions lying rearwardly of the stationary head, said movable pressing head having a recess which substantially conforms to the configuration of the convex side of the wall, and the surface of which is adapted to be close to the wall when the head is in pressing position, andmeans on said extensions for releasably clamping the `collar tothe collar support, said means lying rearwardly of both heads when said heads are in pressing position.

8. A shirt press having an arm having presser head cooperable with a goods-supporting element the latter having an upwardly convex pressing surface which is curved in a direction laterally with respect to the press, said goods-supporting element having upstanding on its pressing surface an arcuate wall for suppolflfng the band or collar of a shirt in upright position above its pressingy surface while the yoke of the shirt is in pressing position, on said surface, a pair of clamps pivotally mounted and adapted to releasably clamp a collar on said wall, spring means connecting the clamps to snap them to and away from clamping position after a predetermined motion, and means operable as a result of head motion to cause the clamps to be released.

9. In a pressing machine a stationary pressing head and a movable pressing means cooperable with the head, a collar-supporting wall structure rising above the pressing surface of the stationary head, said structure having clamps which co- -operate to clamp a collar against the wall and above the level of the pressing surface, means operable to positively hold the clamps in either clamping or release position, and means mounted on the movable pressing means and automatically operable for moving vthe clamps to release position.v

10. In a pressing machine a stationary pressing head and a movable pressing head, a collar-supporting wall structure rising above the pressing surface of the stationary head, said structure having clamps which cooperate to clamp a collar, each clamp having a projection against the wall and above the level of the pressing surface, means operable to positively hold the clamps in either clamping or release position, and means operable as a result of the operation of a part of a press, for moving the clamps to release position, and including hooks adapted to engage with respective projections of said clamps and move said clamps when the pressing head moves.

ll. A pressing machine having a stationary pressing head and a movable pressing means cooperable therewith, a collar support on said stationary pressing means, clamping means cooperable with the collar support for securing a collar thereto, and means supported only on the movable pressing means for automatically releasing the clamping means as said movable pressing means moves.

l2`. A pressing machine having al stationary pressing head and a movable pressing means cooperable therewith, a collar support on said stationary pressing means, swinging clamping means cooperable with the collar support for securing a collar thereto, and means operable as a result of vmotion of the movable pressing means for automatically swinging the clamping means away from the collar support as said pressing means moves.

v 13. A shirt press having a lower pressing head and an upper movable pressing head, pressing padding on the upper surface of the lower head, means arranged upon the padding and rising thereabove to support a shirt collar above said padding while a shirt yoke is in pressing position on` the padding, means causing the supporting means to act to immovably clamp the padding to the lower head. manually operable means for releasably securing the collar to the supporting means, and means operable as a result of motion of the upper head to move the releasable collar-securing means to release position as the head is retracted. v

14. A pressing machine having a stationary pressing head anda movable pressing means cooperable therewith, a collar support on said stationary pressing means, clamping means cooperable with the collar support for securing a collar thereto. and means supported only on the movable pressing means for automatically releasing the clamping meansas said pressing means moves away from pressing positions.

FRED-C. WILHELM. 

